Prince May Receive Congressional Medal of Honor
Prince could be honored with one of the highest awards given to any U.S. citizen, the Congressional Gold Medal. The Minnesota congressional delegation has started a conversation to honor the late Grammy award-winning artist posthumously.
Backed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Ilhan Omar, the introduction of the bill was presented on Monday (Oct. 25) and honors Prince for his “legacy of musical achievement and ... indelible mark on Minnesota and American culture,” according to NPR.
"Like so many, I grew up with Prince's music. I was always proud to say he was from Minnesota," Klobuchar said in a statement. "The world is a whole lot cooler because Prince was in it — he touched our hearts, opened our minds, and made us want to dance. With this legislation, we honor his memory and contributions as a composer, performer, and music innovator."
The Minnesota hometown hero and iconic musician, born Prince Rogers Nelson, died in 2016 at the age of 57 from an accidental fentanyl overdose.
"I remember when I first came to America being captivated by Prince's music and impact on the culture. He showed that it was okay to be a short, Black kid from Minneapolis and still change the world," Rep. Omar also shared in the statement. "He not only changed the arc of music history; he put Minneapolis on the map."
Prince’s achievements include seven Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, an Oscar for best original song score for the movie Purple Rain. He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
In order for the bill to be approved, it must receive support from two-thirds of both the House and Senate.
